Poll: does Brexit need its own museum?
Leave campaigners announce plans for a museum of the Eurosceptic movement
Plans to create a museum of Brexit and the Eurosceptic movement are gathering steam, with Leave supporters called on to donate their rosettes, pamphlets, diaries and other memorabilia.
According to a website dedicated to the project, the museum’s objective will be to tell “the history of what we know today as Brexit. It’s the story of how the UK - in official terms – ‘pooled’ (or surrendered), and then reclaimed, our sovereignty”.
The museum will feature a public collection, archives and a library, as well as undertaking outreach work to provide “ongoing support in post-Brexit issues, especially to Eurosceptics abroad”.
The people behind the museum, who include Gawain Thomas, the former Ukip communications chief and Lee Rotherham, the former director of special projects at Vote Leave, have launched a nationwide collections scheme to gather donations of “pictures, documents, memorabilia and ephemera” from both sides. The museum is not yet seeking financial contributions, according to the website, but will launch a fundraising campaign in due course.
Rotherham, who is acting chairman of the museum appeal, outlined his vision for a museum that would cover “as wide a range of the debate as possible” in an article on Brexit Central last week.
He wrote: “The task now begins to slowly assemble source material and artefacts that help tell that story of popular revolt…
“If it preserves the memories, voices and snapshots of those who for long decades thanklessly campaigned against European integration – and indeed conversely who honestly expounded its cause – then it will be fulfilling its purpose for future generations of intrigued visitors and puzzled historians to come.”
Organisers indicated that it may take years for the museum to be up and running, but said the project had been launched now in order to capture objects and stories before “they are lost to time”.
The website said: “We also believe that it is proper to allow some time for the country to heal politically. A little bit of a time gap will help the nation put Brexit in a more balanced perspective. Some wounds are still raw and we do not seek to aggravate them.”
Does Brexit need its own museum? Vote in our poll and have your say.
According to a website dedicated to the project, the museum’s objective will be to tell “the history of what we know today as Brexit. It’s the story of how the UK - in official terms – ‘pooled’ (or surrendered), and then reclaimed, our sovereignty”.
The museum will feature a public collection, archives and a library, as well as undertaking outreach work to provide “ongoing support in post-Brexit issues, especially to Eurosceptics abroad”.
The people behind the museum, who include Gawain Thomas, the former Ukip communications chief and Lee Rotherham, the former director of special projects at Vote Leave, have launched a nationwide collections scheme to gather donations of “pictures, documents, memorabilia and ephemera” from both sides. The museum is not yet seeking financial contributions, according to the website, but will launch a fundraising campaign in due course.
Rotherham, who is acting chairman of the museum appeal, outlined his vision for a museum that would cover “as wide a range of the debate as possible” in an article on Brexit Central last week.
He wrote: “The task now begins to slowly assemble source material and artefacts that help tell that story of popular revolt…
“If it preserves the memories, voices and snapshots of those who for long decades thanklessly campaigned against European integration – and indeed conversely who honestly expounded its cause – then it will be fulfilling its purpose for future generations of intrigued visitors and puzzled historians to come.”
Organisers indicated that it may take years for the museum to be up and running, but said the project had been launched now in order to capture objects and stories before “they are lost to time”.
The website said: “We also believe that it is proper to allow some time for the country to heal politically. A little bit of a time gap will help the nation put Brexit in a more balanced perspective. Some wounds are still raw and we do not seek to aggravate them.”
Does Brexit need its own museum? Vote in our poll and have your say.
Does Brexit need its own museum?
— Museums Association (@MuseumsAssoc) April 18, 2018